Victoria Primary School

Notes of the Leith Harbour and Newhaven Community Council members-only meeting, held via Zoom on Tuesday 28 April 2020 at 7pm
Actions and decisions are red italic. Nem con means that no-one spoke or voted against an item.

Heart of Newhaven’s application to save Victoria Primary School buildings for the community has been ‘validated’. This means the HoN have demonstrated such a high level of community support and need that it has legally qualified for Community Asset Transfer consideration.

Waiting for the bus……

…and waiting. Then several come at once. That’s before you grapple with bus diversions because of tram works. Nothing in sight yet?

On the cusp of important developments for the Heart of Newhaven community, jump on any of our ‘buses’ because they all take you the right direction. Try this one – We are now a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) SC049919.

We have achieved what we set out to do a year ago under the Constitution of The Heart of Newhaven Community Steering Group– see our website heartofnewhaven.co.uk. Well, not quite! Just the next part of the route and, when compared with exciting things that happened in 2019, a little technical. But vital in applying to the City of Edinburgh Council for the acquisition of Victoria Primary School by Community Asset Transfer, and also towards obtaining a major grant from the Scottish Land Fund.

More to tell you about that journey soon – but very good to be on that bus with us, and on the way noticing changes on our website. Meanwhile you are now among well over 700 of those supporting The Heart of Newhaven increasing daily (so a fleet of buses). Please keep recruiting as this is vital to our success!

Still waiting?

Notice what else is happening, as well as building progress on the new school, making all our plans possible. Get ready to put a date in your diary in April for an afternoon event in the Anchor Building. This is the first of three chances to showcase the many activities planned there to illustrate our three themes (remember them?): Learning & Enterprise; Culture & Heritage; Wellbeing. This one will focus on Learning, with a staffed Information Station and a range of opportunities for people of all ages – especially older adults and children to join in reading, crafts and singing – and home baking too!

From DAY ONE – as soon as we have possession of the site – we have an imaginative programme on this part of the campus to begin to fulfil our promise to the NEWHAVEN COMMUNITY while we develop the Victorian Building to incorporate a comprehensive Heritage Suite to provide visitors with a rich experience of a living museum. Have a look back at my last update with two examples of intergenerational activity and building a sense of community.

Another bus!

This one stopping to pick up anyone free on Friday 6th March at 9:30 on a scenic route. ‘Another planting day with children and any adults who would like to join in’ regreening the coastline, from the area just behind the David Lloyd Centre begun last year. Look at our website under Events and read the exciting story of what is already happening.

3.a Neil Tulloch – co-opted member nomination

4 Police report

They delivered a community safety talk to P7s at Leith Victoria primary school.

They also delivered a talk on internet safety to parents and pupils at St Mary’s primary school. Thank

There was a DVLA initiative in the South Fort St/Graham St area, leading to a few cars being uplifted.

There was a station visit from the Rotary club.

‘Operation Crackle’ bonfires patrols occurred on 1 to 5 November

There were only 4 incidents in Leith, including a firework being thrown at Montgomery St park.

There was a police surgery at Ocean Terminal.

Police are now working on ‘Operation Winter City’, i.e. patrolling the winter markets.

Police delivered a safety talk at Ocean Point.

Police visited the Fort early years centre to boost the police’s image.

Police took part in a mock court project at Edinburgh Academy.

This was a cross-Edinburgh competition for schools.

The cybercrime unit arrested a person for possession of indecent images.

PC O’Donnell has joined the Leith community policing team.

Police have received training on their new mobile devices, which should save them time in communicating about incidents.

There has been no response to requests for running cycling proficiency training.

Action: PC Smith to chase this up

The PCs have asked for crime statistics for LHNCC’s area The following are for all of NE Edinburgh (April to September 2019):

Total crime numbers increased by 7% compared to the same period in 2018.

122 house-breakings to dwellings, of which 34 have been solved.

24 drink/drunk-driving offences, of which all have been solved.

General solving rate is ~47% for all crimes, ~60% for crimes of violence and ~50% for minor assaults.

Action: PCs Smith and Casselden to ask for release of fuller statistics.

5 Reports

5.a Chair

Saturday 40 October. I attended the Leith Conference at Norton Park. Lots of interaction from Leithers. A great attempt by Duncan and Faith to bring the community together.

Wednesday 30 October. I attended a CEC event held in neighbouring Granton where a scale model of the proposals for development of the former Scottish Gas site was present. It was sad to note that this event was not well attended by members of the local community.

Friday 1 November. As a Steering Group member of £eithChooses I attended Hermitage Park Primary School where I joined in with a group of P7 and Jo from Community Foods, Edinburgh to cook a pasta dish. The equipment they used was part of the award the school received. It was great to see how successful applicants put the money they receive to some real good within our community.

Friday 8 November. The Tram Team presented the details of the first phase of the works in South Leith Parish Church. That work is now under way and I am counting on the CCTT to keep us up to date on how the works progress.

Sunday 10 November. (Remembrance Sunday) Along with our Secretary I attended the wreath laying ceremony at the Community Treatment Centre in Junction Place.

Monday 11 November. I attended St Augustine Church in North Bridge for a presentation/workshop on ‘Brexit and the EU Special Status’. This introductory session was attended by a variety of different organisations across Scotland. I will pass on the Powerpoint when it is available. Not for us to be involved, however useful for us to understand the processes involved.

Wednesday 13 November. One of our CEC Community Councillor’s Induction sessions. It was good that some of you were able to attend one of these events and having just received Powerpoint Slides from Ross Murray I will pass these on for the benefit of us all.

Sunday 17 November. The Sailors Remembrance Service, beginning in South Leith Parish Church and continuing in the afternoon at the memorial outside Malmaison. This is an event that I believe we should also be laying a wreath in future years.

Wednesday 20 November. I was fortunate to join our LHNCC Planning Sub Group for a presentation by a developer. It was great to see this group in action and to witness their dedication and professionalism in handling the remit.

Thursday 21 November. The AGM for the EACC saw our local man John Just wondering if you received my email sent 26 Nov. regarding above. The only date available for majority is Friday 6 December at 11.00am. at my Flat, can you let me know if you can attend? elected as its Chair. We congratulate John Tibbitt upon his appointment and look forward to hearing of his plans for EACC. Having John in this role I see as a positive thing for Leith.

Monday and Tuesday this week. Buying up Santas and Reindeer to hand over to Victoria Primary School in advance of the Christmas Lights switching on Monday 24 December next week. Almost ‘stripping the shelves’ in no less than five supermarkets!

5.b Secretary

Most items were covered elsewhere but J Marlborough noted:

The date in the circulated agenda and planning update (item 7·b below) should be 28 November.

5.c Treasurer

D Tharby reported LHNCC’s current balance is £1192·10, but there is one outstanding invoice for minutes (£30).

6 Councillors’/MSPs’/MP’s Reports

6.a Cllr Booth

It is great to see the work progressing on the new Leith Victoria primary school, but footpaths have been fenced off, cutting down provision for pedestrians. Cllr Booth is waiting on a substantive response from CEC officers to his queries.

The parking consultation is now closed, but Cllr Booth is happy to receive input via email.

He supports in principle the proposed parking restrictions but the detail is not right in every respect, e.g. at the colonies.

The bus-lane consultation has also ended, but Cllr Booth is happy to receive input via email.

The proposal is for bus lanes to operate 7am to 7pm every day, as requested by bus companies.

He is pursuing the issue of detritus in the Water of Leith basins.

There is good progress, including a revised agreement on management arrangements, according to CEC officers.

The new arrangements seem to be working, but more work on transparency is needed.

Feedback and planned action from Planning Team to be circulated in Planning Update in early December.

Feedback and discussion will be held at January 2020 meeting.

7.c Removal of Robert Burns statue

This has been approved: see communication on website. There will be no adverse impact on the statue. It will be restored very near the original location (no more than 2m away), in an enhanced area of public realm. It will be lit in the evenings.

8 CCTT (Community Councils Together on Trams)

Some concerns have arisen around business-use in Constitution St – these will be covered in Thursday’s meeting.

A resident reported that information has not been reaching taxi-drivers.

A trader group has been set up: businesses are working very hard to counter such issues.

R Levick noted that CCTT and the trams team have been meeting for 18 months. CCTT met recently to work out how best to proceed. R Levick also noted the level of trust that has built up between CCTT and the trams team.

There was discussion of the changed plans for Western Harbour, i.e. that only 1/3 of the park will definitely be developed in Phase one. The remainder will be in completed in Phase 2 that will require FUL Application

10 Future events

J Marlborough noted that this is of interest due to LHNCC’s campaign for the 21 bus service to go to the Western General Hospital, and that lan Bieniowski (Lothian Buses Performance Manager) will be present.

Details cannot be set because the UK Government (and hence the Scottish Government) have not yet set their budgets,

CEC: City Plan 2030: Choices for City Plan consultation runs 9 December 2019 to 28 February 2020. Public promotion: Saturday 18 January 2020 at Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre, 11am to 3pm

12 CEC Edinburgh Partnership

D Tharby noted that the community planning partnership will meet on 5 December (10am-12 noon), at the Ripple Project.

D Tharby reported positively on the recent training for new Community Councillors. There was emphasis on the EACC. Also, CC members should be careful to declare interests in any matter discussed at CC meetings.

LHNCC will need to appoint an engagement officer, and provide annual engagement reports.

There was discussion of how and where LHNCC needs to engage with the public.

Edinburgh Association of Community Councils: AGM, Thursday 21 November 2019, City Chambers

It was reported that J Tibbitt (formerly of Leith Links CC, now of Leith Central CC) is the new chair of EACC.

Neighbourhood Network meeting:

This will be at 6pm on Wednesday 27 November 2019, McDonald Road Library. D Tharby will chair this meeting.

£eithChooses

Don Giles requested volunteers for the voting day on 1 February, and for projects to apply to enter on or before 6 February.

13 AOCB

D Tharby reported plans for a further members-only meeting – venue, date and time TBC.

D Tharby noted how residents can bring up matters at LHNCC meetings.

It was noted that some of the org.uk email addresses are being spammed.